REVIEW: ‘Captain Marvel,’ Issue #7 – War of the Realms Tie in Part 2

Captain Marvel #7 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Annapoala Martello, colors by Tamra Bonvillain, and letters by Clayton Cowles. In issue seven, with an army of the undead after them, and Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange having had their minds swapped by the Enchantress, they must find a way to familiarize themselves with their new abilities so that they can free all of South America from the Enchantress and her undead thralls.

Captain Marvel #7 wraps up the War of the Realms tie-in with all the energy and fun I could’ve asked for. Thompson once again delivers a script  that brings great character and humor to the story. Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange struggling with their mutual out of body experiences is a genuine blast to read. The intellectualism of Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel’s reliance on instinct are wonderfully highlighted as both heroes take their own paths to getting control of the bizarre situation the Enchantress has trapped them in.

The final solution reached by the heroes was also a nice surprise. It fell perfectly into the realm of unexpected, but still easily acceptable as something a person could come up with on the fly. This clever resolution serves as a reminder that it is the person, not just the powers, that makes a great hero.

Martello’s art also works great with this fun, light hearted script, as the realizations of the two struggling heroes are portrayed with a perfect amount of exaggeration to really make the humor pop. Plus, the art provides a magnificent sight gag, which steals the page, involving Black Widow and a giant crocodile. The art further works when the big end of issue throw-down occurs and the panels could easily become cluttered. Instead the action is keptclear and easily enjoyed.

The only misstep in Captain Marvel #7 comes from the  struggle with company wide crossovers as a whole. While I was pleasantly surprised overall with how the story brought the event into the series with a fluidity that impressed me there is an awkward splash page this issue that highlights some of the other heroes taking part in the larger event. On it, they are shown to be taking part in the same battle as our main characters, but are shown once and never appear again. It is a disconcerting moment as the heroes shown have no impact or bearing on the plot, and are simply placed in the issue to remind the reader this is a War of the Realms crossover. Even if doing so serves no purpose other than to be an awkward moment of confusion.

In the end, Captain Marvel #7 wraps up a momentary detour in the ongoing narrative that manages to function as, if nothing else, an enjoyable filler story when read out side of the larger crossover event. It ends with a tease for the upcoming plot line that, combined with the promised return of regular series artist Carmen Carnero, has the future looking to be going into a bright, and bold, future for Captain Marvel.